Dealing with Ego on a Spiritual Path

When we are on a spiritual path, the idea of ego becomes something to overcome and get past. It feels contrary to how we want to be in the world.
Its the part of ourselves that we would rather hide or deny rather than show. So we battle with it or suppress it…. or disguise it.

ego in disguise

Here are some examples from my own experience of an ego in disguise:
~ We see ourselves as knowledgeable and evolved…. so we don’t want to be seen as not knowing or caught up in our self image.
~ We see ourselves as spiritual beings who give a lot to others…. so we don’t want to appear selfish and put ourselves first.
~ We see ourselves as good people in a world of danger and mistrust… because the world is a place where things are out of our control and other people can harm or take advantage of us.

Does this sound familiar to you? Can you see the ego at play here – in our thoughts about how we don’t want to be.
That’s our ego in disguise.
We are creating a “better” ego to overcome the inferior one from the past.

The irony is that in order for us to evolve past our ego we need to get intimate with it and acknowledge it. If we want to truly evolve into a new level of consciousness then this is the place that must be embraced.

silhouette of man standing near body of water
Photo by brenoanp on Pexels.com

When we look at the aspects of our ego, or our shadow side, and we feel resistance and discomfort … its a good thing.
Of course, this very human part of us doesn’t want to be looked at. Yet, when we accept is as a part of our experience, we begin to see it more clearly. We  feel it’s impact and see the power it has had over us for most of our lives … even now.

Being awake and conscious  and witnessing how our ego comes and goes is something that the most enlightened people are able to do.  It brings a smile and possibly a shrug. There is curiosity, compassion and detachment.

We cannot deny it just as the left needs the right, one side of a coin has to have the other, and  they cannot be separated from the other.

When we accept it and see it for what it is, it loses its power. We must embrace it in order for it to be no longer important as a driver in our lives.

If we continue to beat it up it will find ways to become more powerful in our thinking and stories about ourselves.

Be kind to your ego, so you can let it go and transform into your whole Being.

 

46 responses to “Dealing with Ego on a Spiritual Path”

  1. Yess! Acknowledge, examine, observe, do experiments with it treat it too, with loving-kindness and it certainly will not be irradicated but will lose its influence or at least not be as evident

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Thank you Jeff. Experimenting is fun and humbling! 💛

      Liked by 1 person

  2. Powerful post Val. Ego is a part of us just as much as our breath. It is an essential part of us — and eradicating it is impossible — being present to its voice is important — and as Jeff says, loving-kindness is key to create a more loving influence in our being present. ❤

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Love seems to be the answer … more and more, how easy to forget and resort to old patterns. Thank you Louise 💕

      Liked by 1 person

  3. I love this Val. So true. What we reject in ourselves, I have found, always comes back at you with a vehemence.

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Such an interesting and humbling journey we are on. Thank you Don 🙏

      Liked by 1 person

  4. Quite true. It’s very humbling. Thank you.

    Liked by 2 people

  5. Yes Val, we need to accept that part of ourselves too, even if we not always feel comfortable doing so.
    Thank you for this reminder 🙂

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Thank you Derrick 💛

      Liked by 1 person

  6. Great insight

    This fictitious character is created for identity, not as the captain of our being.

    I envision my “Ego” as a ventriloquist dummy

    He is the one who thinks, who gets angry, pissed, envious, even adolescent needing approval.

    You can create a space between stimulus and response.

    We can talk about our Ego in third person.

    The other day I told a friend after a nasty comment, that my Ego was piss3d at him.

    He looked confused. Then I added, that’s his problem.

    We need not control or get rid of our ego, just use him/her as our servant.

    Give attention to the positive and ignore the negative

    Liked by 4 people

    1. Love this Mark … and your interpretations and interactions with others.
      Ventriloquist dummy is an interesting metaphor. One that centers on the human in charge with a mouth piece. What if there was no servant or master …. just a realization that both are creations of the ego mind.
      As soon as we think we are right , it’s an opportunity to challenge and explore what’s behind it.
      This journey is great … and I expect never ending. Unless our ego thinks we have got it 💕

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      1. Marty .. so sorry for swift non mindful response 🙏

        Liked by 1 person

        1. My ego does not mind

          I could even change the name I call myself, my ego
          To mark or gender bend to Mary

          Liked by 1 person

          1. Smiling … thanks Marty 💛

            Like

  7. Good one! Trying to destroy the ego is bringing too much attention to it.

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Yes indeed Betul. The more we bring it to our attention, the more it’s power grows. Thank you for being here 🙏

      Liked by 1 person

  8. Oh the fun we had, ego and I. I taught me all I knew, but eventually, like my trusty teddy bear, I let it go to take a step of my own…and never looked back 😀
    Great post Val 😀

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Thank you Mark. That Teddy Bear is important on our journey … until we see that we don’t need to rely on it. 💛🙏💛

      Liked by 1 person

  9. My ego has a great sense of humour, although she is a narcissist ha! I see her and love her all the same. The good thing now is that when she arises in me, I see her very clearly and find it easier not to get caught in her story. 👏💚💕

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Not getting caught up in the story is so important. May we all see clearly and dismiss the ego story with kindness 💕

      Liked by 1 person

      1. And a sense of humor. Yes! So important to lighten up. Thinking of you embracing summer waving palm trees and beaches as we hunker down for Winters early arrival. 💕

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  10. Yep, sounds familiar! 😉

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Yep! Be humble. Love 💕 x

      Liked by 1 person

  11. Thank you for your simple profundity Derrick. Always appreciated 🙏

    Like

  12. You are so good at stating the obvious truth here. Ego can be tricky so we need to be a bit more aware of it. Love this post.

    Liked by 3 people

    1. Thank you Marlene. Tricky is a great adjective for it! 💛

      Liked by 1 person

  13. This is beautiful Val, we need to see both sides (+ and -) of our Ego, and I love how you say “…It brings a smile and possibly a shrug…” Being able to look at Ego with curiosity is something to strive for 🙂

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Thank you Randall. 💛 Ego does get a bad wrap … but its part of being human. Mine still surprises me and keeps me aware 😉

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      1. Absolutely, Ego unchecked is a dangerous thing ~ but together so much more can be discovered 🙂

        Liked by 1 person

  14. It sounds familiar, Val. Thank you for another timely post. ❤

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Thank you dear Ann 💛

      Like

  15. It’s amusing to step into the role of detached observer to watch the Ego’s antics and tantrums with amused detachment. 😀

    “Aah . . . there it goes again!”

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Its certainly entertaining at its best!! 😉

      Liked by 1 person

  16. This is a very interesting perspective, Val. I hadn’t looked at the positive aspect of being kind to ego in quite this way. I’m intrigued. 🙂

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Thank you Debra. Being curious is a good approach to get to know the ego better. 💛

      Like

  17. thanks for giving me some food for thought about the power of our ego, Val.

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Thank you for your comment Jim 💛

      Liked by 1 person

  18. Oh, this sounds very familiar Val.

    Liked by 2 people

  19. Hey.. thanks for this wonderful post. It gives good insights for those following spiritual path:)

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Thank you Sarthak 💛

      Like

  20. I quite agree with your views on the ego. The more you accept it, the more you see it. The more you see it the more it vanishes. That has been my experience. Well said.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thank you for being here 🙏

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